Louisiana motorists pay 16 cents per gallon in taxes that cover construction and maintenance of state roads and bridges. According to a new survey by LSU, a majority says it would be willing to pay a high gas tax while at the same time skeptical of shouldering any other type of tax hike.

Considering that state currently has a $13 billion backlog in deferred maintenance — road and bridge repairs we’ve been putting off for years — maybe the Legislature should consider it. Gov. John Bel Edwards favors it, which for many Republicans in the GOP-controlled Lege might be reason enough to oppose it.